成语故事 - 兔死狗烹 With the rabbits dead, the hounds are cooked

兔死狗烹(tu si gou peng)
With the rabbits dead, the hounds are cooked

比喻事情办成功后，把有功劳的人杀掉
Trusted aides are eliminated when they have outlived their usefulness


范蠡和文仲是春秋时期越国的两个大官。越王勾践不听范蠡劝告，盲目进攻邻国吴国，结果被吴国打败，搞得他自己也被吴王抓去当苦力。范蠡跑去说服勾践要他忍受耻辱，假装服从，等待机会报仇。文仲也多次到吴国拜访，给勾践鼓励，帮助他恢复信心。几年后，吴王终于把勾践放回越国。在范蠡和文仲的相助下，越国很快就恢复了之前的强大，最后还把吴国给消灭了。

因为范蠡和文仲为越国作出了巨大的贡献，越王就很开心的赏给他们两个人很多的财宝，甚至还把国土的一半分给范蠡。但范蠡太了解勾践这个人了，所以他谢绝了这些赏赐，找了个地方隐居起来。他还写信给文仲告诉他：“当天上的鸟儿都被射完后，弓箭就没用处了。当所有的兔子被抓完后，猎狗也会被杀了煮来吃掉的。我劝你还是早点离开勾践，免得惹来杀身之祸。”文仲看完信后，接受了范蠡的劝告。他假装生病，不再参加朝中会议，可是已经太迟了。勾践听信了别人对他的谣言，把他逼得自杀了。


During the Spring and Autumn Period, Fan Li and Wen Zhong were senior officials serving the Yue king Gou Jian. Against Fan Li's objection, Gou Jian blindly launched an attack against the neighboring State of Wu. As a result, he suffered disastrous defeat and was even held prisoner by the Wu king and had to work as his slave. Fan Li persuaded Gou Jian to endure the temporary humiliation, pretend to surrender and wait for an opportunity to strike back. Wen Zhong too tried to encourage Gou Jian and helped him to stay positive when he went to the State of Wu on diplomatic missions. Years later, Gou Jian was eventually set free. With the help of Fan Li and Wen Zhong, the State of Yue rapidly rehabilitated and annexed the Wu.

Due to their great contribution, both Fan Li and Wen Zhong were richly awarded. Gou Jian even offered half of the state to Fan Li. However Fan Li rejected the King's offer and went to live in seclusion instead. He had known Gou Jian too well. Fan Li then wrote to his friend Wen Zhong, "After you shoot all the birds already, the bows and arrows no use liao. After all the rabbits have been caught, the hunting hounds sure kana killed and cooked one. Brother, you better leave the King, if not sure kana one!"

Wen Zhong took Fan Li's advice and faked MC to skip imperial court meetings, but it was already too late. Gou Jian had believed slanderous gossips about Wen Zhong and commanded Wen Zhong to kill himself.